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I’m running a little late today so I’ll get down to business. Using www.random.org to select the number, the winner of the beautiful bamboo bowl is commenter No. 2 – Tanna @ The Brick Street Bungalow! Congratulations Tanna ~ please send an email to [email protected] with your address and I’ll put your new bowl in the mail. Thanks to everyone who commented! Liz – thanks for the beautiful heartfelt memory. It was a pleasure knowing your mother and her sisters.
Wow – what a weekend! We traveled over 1,200 miles in 48 hours. I knew we’d be out of ‘kitchen range’ a while this weekend so I wanted to make a simple, quick, delicious pie that would travel well. We had great success with the Lemon Chess Pie so I decided to make one more Chess pie and chocolate seemed perfect. Isn’t chocolate always perfect?
Call us crazy, but we drove to Atlanta and back to pick up this wonderful (new-to-us) pop-up camper we bought from my brother David! You know what this means? Camping food and recipes! I feel a new feature coming soon. We’re completely exhausted today but are so happy to finally have a camper. We’ve always been big campers and even backpack on the Appalachian Trail. This camper will allow us to take the dogs and spend some relaxing time in the woods. We left Friday after work and drove about 4 hours through Virginia. On Saturday we went the scenic route taking in a little “leaf peeping” in North Carolina while driving through Asheville. (Hi Sommer – we waived as we drove by!)
We had perfect weather for a southern tour of 4 States.
The leaves are changing, there is a little nip in the air, apple festivals were everywhere and the traffic was light.
The sky was so blue – just beautiful!
We had to stop a lot (near beautiful trees and overlooks) so our dog Abby could go potty 🙂
This is my favorite fall color.
My husband always gets these great shots!
Beautiful flowers are growing everywhere along the side of the roads.
Perfect!
And wouldn’t you know there was another pie made along the way! We stopped in Hiwassee Georgia in the northeast corner of the state to visit my father-in-law Albert, his wife Juanita, her daughter Cheryl, and my sister-in-law Joyce visiting from Brazil. Joyce asked me if I would help them make an apple pie. I was thrilled to roll out the crust and I hope it turned out OK!
It was a great, but fast visit. We headed on down to Atlanta and spent the night with my brother David. After a quick, detailed lesson in how to pull a camper, how to put it up and take it down, we got back on the road to Virginia. 11 hours later, we made it home safe and sound. Whew!
Now back to pie No. 41. I’m always amazed at how delicious an easy pie can be. You will need sugar, cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, corn meal, salt, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and a partially baked 9-inch pie crust. I’ve researched a lot of chocolate chess pie recipes and decided to blend several recipes together. I believe a true chess pie includes corn meal. If you don’t have any you can substitute all-purpose flour.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients: sugar, cocoa, flour, cornmeal and salt. Be sure to use a good quality cocoa powder.
Stir gently to combine.
Add the evaporated milk and blend on low until combined.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the softened butter and vanilla and beat just until incorporated.
Pour the filling into a partially pre-baked 9-inch deep dish pie crust.
Bake at 325 degrees for 55 – 60 minutes.
This pie holds together well and can be served slightly warm. Top with ice cream or sweetened whipped cream and dust with powdered sugar or cocoa if desired.
The pie is rich and chocolaty, and nobody needs to know how easy it is to make!
Chocolate Chess Pie
(inspired by a recipe on www.Food.com)
1 1/2 cups sugar
5 tablespoons good quality cocoa powder
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3 large eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 partially baked 9-inch deep dish pie crust
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: sugar, cocoa, flour, cornmeal, and salt. Blend in the evaporated milk. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add the softened butter and vanilla and beat until all ingredients are blended. Pour the filling into a blind-baked, or partially baked 9-inch deep dish pie crust. Bake at 325 degrees for 55-60 minutes. Serve slightly warm or room temperature topped with sweetened cream or ice cream.
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I’m off to work on that big pile of laundry! Hope you have a nice Columbus Day holiday and thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Mary says
October 12, 2011 at 5:23 amThis sounds delicious, Tricia! The cornmeal threw me for a minute. Do you know what it does for the recipe? This curious mind needs to know.
Angie's Recipes says
October 11, 2011 at 6:26 pmYou have captured the soul of autumn! Chocolate and cheese..a match made in heaven!
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow says
October 11, 2011 at 12:05 pmJust tried to send you an e-mail with Windows Live… not too sure about whether or not it worked. Let me know if you don't get it. blessings ~ t
McMGrad89 says
October 11, 2011 at 12:00 pmYummy chocolate…I am so sad that I was out of town for your anniversary. Who would have that there would be no internet. I need to get a laptop or find a way to pack a Dell Tower. Happy anniversary. I was trying to think which recipe was the one to bring me over….I will have to think a little longer. Here's to many more years of posting.
Tanna at The Brick Street Bungalow says
October 11, 2011 at 11:59 amWoo hoo!! Woo hoo!!! Yea! yea! Yea! I am so stinkin' excited!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Tricia!! I will smile and think of you everytime I see it! <br /><br />Oh.my.goodness! Those leaves are so beautiful. I am going to get to come to VA the 23rd to see my daughter and grandsons!! I am most excited to see them… and will enjoy these beautiful colors, too. It is so dry
Shelia and Mister Bean says
October 10, 2011 at 7:04 pmHi Tricia!<br />I know that's a Coleman camper…is it a Westlake??? We had a 1999 Coleman Westlake about 6 years ago and I absolutely loved it! It could be your camper's twin! We've since traded it for a small travel trailer, but nothing will ever be as much fun as the popup! I still love it! <br />I've been enjoying your blog for the past year!<br />Shelia